The Police reported to a school that an allegation had been made of historical sex abuse by the Claimant school caretaker (outside, and before, his employment). Though disbelieving, the Head suspended the Claimant whilst investigations continued.

After about a year, the Head decided to recommend dismissal to the Governors, though nothing further had happened to support the allegation, the accuser’s mental state was being assessed, those witnesses whom the accuser had identified as supporting his claims in fact did not do so, and it was said that a decision as to whether to charge the Claimant or not would be made within the immediate future.

The Governors dismissed, and on appeal that was upheld, on the basis that even